Theatrical apparatus.



patented sept.' 17

`2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

' nowm Tntnsron, or nnncnnnsr; Naw Your.

To aZZwhomz'tLmay-comern: l n

Beit known that I, Howann T nUns'roN, a citizen oftheUnited States,` and a resident 0f Beechhurst, in thencou'nt'v of Queens and State "ofN ew York, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in 'I 'heatricall APpa'ratUS,y of which the 4followingis a speci'- llicatlon;

The invention" pertains nidie articularly 'to stage apparatus involving 11g tingeiects and a Specially 'constructed cabinet, by means of which spirit, ghost and other illuslonaryl eiects,--may be-produced. Aside yfrom the stage and lighting eli`ects, my inventionresides in' the construction of. the cabinet ada` n amies-tchou several persons.

bi1-iet of my invention preferably 'eo 'frasedilooringfa front two-part Qi olpart side foldingdoors,- rea-r foldi';4 rsya'box'concealed within the f'ith'babinet and pedestals at-the reai'fcornersgoth"cabinet and adapted to 'I attendants to stand thereon and be concealed by the rear side and back -folding doors when-said doors are in their open osii tion. 4The rearor back doors of the ca inet ble a of my lnventionis capable of use in ilalerorin-4 are hinged to open bothinwardly andl outlwardlyy'and the4 cabinet as a whole will be with blank,"andthe front curtains and the 'front' 'side doors will preferably be quiipedwith hand-'holes over `which flexips will normally extend. The cabinet 5S' been variousfiillusionar eiects and sc -used successfully y'nie in public per-4 f and are ,presented in "gfthe `accompanying drawings 1n which:

' The details of the construction of new cabinet, with reference to the accessor features, will be pointed out n-full hereinafter thel same, from front to arlsz,l taken on the dotted line 2--2 of Fig; 41- and looking in the Fig. 3 is aftopview of the same;

direction 'ofthef'arrow, shown in Figi;

Fig.` ltis a' vertical sectonthrougha por- 4tion-of one of the front curtains of the cabi# .-Figg, 5 isla detail illustrating the net `taken on Vthe dotted line of 'rnnnnlcu APPARATUs.

VIp'contention o! Letters Paten*y Patlitbd llliltih f ledluly 31, 191B. senil H0. lmn

tedl for the uses indicated and being in,-

net t lap each other, as 4iidiozsated 2 is a yertlcal longitudinal section of for hatching the 'doorsjofithe-M closed position; Fig.' 6 is a transverse section same, ttaken on the `dotted Vline Fig. 7 is al side elevation fon an scale of the cabinet with the.f'ont'fatidE lighting eiects indicated;V

F ig.- 8` 1 a vertical section;-Vr

cabinet, ta en onthe dottedfl ig. 9 is a horizontal section thr li same, taken on the dotted linefr-Q of; ig i the front curtains bein omittedand al the doors of the cabinet eing shown their open* position, and

tion of one 0f the forward side@ on the dotted line'10 10 of Fig'.

In the drawings; 15 indicates@- aj theater, 1G the jcabinet of my iny'enti ably mountedthereon,` 17a forward light capable 'of throwing light into the front edge portie of of the cabina 16, anais sie; capable of lightuig up the p6 ibn,

Fg. 10 is a vertical sectionthrougli-a 'if the stage and whose mygale eid y ad A i entering the front of the cabnet.,f -The cabinet 16 hasA a doublon) and a top 20v and is mountedon le f2.1-

audience to look flooring '19. 4The cabinet is. rectangular in transv section and is suciently tall tdrmi i sons to standtherein, and atlthef nto 'the *"cabinetjare two curtains 23 whichixnaybe `vided with casters'or theflike 2 2., t vbeing of appropriate-hebt ,to'gpelit-'lef throught e space slid in a direction from eachother 'sola'sto y open the entire-front of the @wt curtains 23 are hung u pon-rods by means of ordinary curtain r1 the overlap at the center of,` elfrontqfftheieabinet, so that the curtains 3@ rods' 2in1: their end `portions.ext Ithe sides of the cabinet, as. indica j at- 25,,so

that'the Acurtains '23"rnay, 'when' moved* in 100iy Ktheir open position; be' extended to bstantially beyond the sides ofthe cabinet '-to the audience.. The, cljpain are provided ahths and rnay, also,4 over,` 11n Fig; `1. Vflitser d beyond' eannif-:"a10i` flaps 27 which 'normally hangldownsvudly over and' conceal said holes 26, said flaps 27 beingsecured by sewing or otherwiseaiv their upper edges to the curtains 23. 'lhe cui'- ta'ins 23 are of fiexible fabric and inay be pushedv .outwardly from each other, on the rods 24, or drawn togetherI to close the front of the cabinet, as illustrated in Fi 1.

, The flooring 19 of the cabinet is formed of double-planking leaving a space therein, as shown in Fig. 8, and at thecenter of the upper-layer 28 of the Hooi-ing 19 I provide two hinged doors 29 which cover the top of a box 30' concealed -within the flooring 19, The box 30 and lids 29 therefor are important in carrying out some o f the effects capable of being produced with the use of iny cabinet. For illustration, I ordinarily conceal 4wit-hin the box l30 a white gauze ghost costume havinge suitable false face annexed thereto and which, without the audience observing the'same, is ,elevated up from. the box and placed on an assistant who thereby becomes anillusionaryvghost, the curtains 23 at this time beingl in their open position. The entire jnner surface of the cabinet is lined with black, as denoted at 31, this lining being of black velvet or of other matelng to the top 20 of the cabinet.

'to-iiortioi'is of the iiprigh'ts 34 and u', i n i I v said. doorfare in closed position, and

rial, and while the lamp 18 may light up the back of the stage, the light 17 is so disposed that its rays of light only enter the front of the cabinet to the extent of a few inches, lea-ving ,all of the interior of the cabinet entirely dark, or so appearing to the audience, and whereby an assistant effecting'the ghost illusion with the use of the box 3U is not observable to the audience.

At each side of the cabinet there are two doors `32, 33,*Wliich doors are, respectively, hinged to upriglits 34, 35 and correspond in dimensions with' each other and adapted to be', folded toward eachother and to suitable ft-ists 36 extending vertically from the flfti'- e forward doors 83 at the sides of the Y'net cor Spend exactly with the rear door 32'at sai'dsides, except .that the .forward doors 33 are formed with band holes 37 over which are hung lexible'flaps 38 corresponding with the flaps 27 of the curtains 23.

At the back ot' the cabinet. are two .corresponding rear doors 39, 40 `which are liinged may swing inwardly,l

Fig. 9, or oi-,itwiirillyfas shown in said Fig.

.. yeift A at 4() when on the inay be provided a suitable coi] cratc with latches 43 prodoors 39, 4() for retainingsaid a. pom` interi'nediate the doors standard 41' keeper .42 to vided on; the

.doors in' normal 'closed position. .1 i h lhe uprights o whieh'lstand intermediate the doors 32, 33 whensaid doorsI are in "cabinet may ence, and'in addition the audience may look is standing as shown by dotted lines in -doors 32 outwardly closed position; are also equipped willi Io-opers, iiiiinlu-rcd lil. lo cooperani with hilclics l5 carried by the doors Ilz.` 155i lor locl in; 'y said doors in closed position. l illustrate in Figs. 5 and (i the details ol' construction of thc keepers Ifind latches for Securing; the seferal cabinet doors in rloscd position. und these detailsl will be understood without specific description. rl`lic invention is noi limited to the bitching incans shown in Figs. 5 and (i, since'thcsc nicaiisl nini' be varied in many ways und in .sounl instances may be omitted altogether. A

At thc rear corners olI lh(l cabinet are exposed pedestals lo, which pcdcstals become concealed troni the audience when the rear side doors 32 and bark doors Jill. -lU :iic opened oulii'nrd'ly against said peddstnls oi' to the position shown by solid line in Fig. 9. The pcdestals '4b :irc of considerable utility and they ure intrnded to receive as sistnntn who will staiuton thcni and ilicinselves become concealed between thc utorosaid doors 32, 35), 4t). portion ot' the rear corners oi" the rabinet with straps 47 (Fig. 2), 'which n niy be grasped by the assistants when standing on the pe'destals 4G and thereby aid the assist,-

- stand within the cabinet and not be observed by the audience. When the cabinet is placed on the stage, the 'curtains 23 and the several doors will all be in closed position, and probably two assistants will be concealed within the cabinet.

then be observed by the audi.-

helow the liooring 1t) so as to see that no one stage near the cabinet. concealed within theI l cabi'i'itrrwill, at the proper time, open the back- .riool-ndt), 40 inwardly to the dotted position, shown in lii-gr.

fl, and attendants will open the rear side and thereupon the assistants'in the cabinet, the doors 39,40 hai"- innr been opened'inwardly, w-ill step around upon -`the pedesta'ls 46 and there support themselves, folding the doors 3), 40 ontwardly, so that they lmay be concealed-between the-doors 32 and said doors 39, 40. The front' side doors 33 may then be behind the cabinet or `on the The tw'o assistant-s.

opened l provide the upper i The exterior of the 1' attendants 'on the l ordina moet 23 .c cealed-t-herein. After'the audience has,

with the upright 41. The stage will "close fthe doors 32, 33, andjat this'tlmethe entire cabinet will bein closed condition'v withtwoassisb. 4ants yconcealed within 'the cabinet. "The 'as'.

will stand in line `sistants may then ring'` bells or do-'rany-acts of performance vthat .might .seem to be appriate land entertaining. to the udience.

sabine@ Y f. .Performers ,may enter the cabinet and be forcibly ejected therefrom `bytthe :is-

` sistants concealed within the cabinet,"with 'Tout the' audience knowing in 'what way vthe performers became thrown or. ejected 'from the cabinet. A ghost effect may b e produced byone of the concealed assistants opening the lids 2.9 of the box 30 and gradually elevating therefrom a -ghost robe havof the exhibition.

lng afalse' face,'this robe being'.- applied to sa one, of the assistants by the otherassistant concealed within the cabinet. fect may be produced by two performers on the stage entering the cabinet and closing the curtains l23 and extending their hands out through the holes 2 6 therein. While the performers arein this' position one or the other-"may apparently be. attacked by the concealed assistants 'and have his clothes greatly dismantled after which bothperu formers may be ejected from the cabinet by the assistants concealed therein.' The concealed assistants lmay at any time extend bells orother articles through the hand holes 27 of the side doors 33. Various iilu' 5o. sionaryand entertaining effects may be pro;A

duced with the Vuse of the cabinet, and these may vary with the wi-lloflthe proprietor that I claim. as In invention anddesire 'to secure by Lettersatent, isz

' having a hinged back door 1.V A cabinet ofthe character described capable of being eturned inwardly into the` cabinet and also outwardly therefrom, a side door hlnged @h6-adjacent to 'the hinged edge of; Said back door and adaptedtobe openedoutwardly, and an outer-pedestal adjacent the hlnged .edges of said'doors upon which a person.

from within the cabinet .may pass and be supported when the said back door :is openedl D vmay` bemovcdI to open" position; whereby the entire interior of the thereon bein between the salidal bac cabinet becomes exposed. andthe audience Y `l may see. that no` persons are een convinced that there 1s nothing 'within V the front curtains may be vclosed` and 'Itho 'assistants onthe pedestal's may turn thedoors 39,' 40 inwardly and step i'nt'' the" ycabinet and then close said. dorsso that .they ,Y

the cabinet,

'- cabinet t Wardly, and outer `having` a hinged "turned .inwardly outwardly therefrom, V

adjacent-to the `hinged edge of saidback Wardlv, said cabinet Another efhaving two back doors hinged at their outer said back doors .lined with blackiind and the:

`edges 'adjacent the ba corners of @the d adapted to betumedj inwardly into# thcabliiet andy also outwardly theme from-,`*t side doors hingedat theirvv edgesdjjant ai the-:hinged edges of :stia-1s back dbd-sand ad tilted. .to 'be epnd leute pedeetals'l .at said rsnsffne-wieai cabinet may passenv besupportedwhen Ath said back doors are: opened'inwardly, said; pedestalsand the persons 'thereon being-bev corners upfnwhich tween Saidbaci and 1091's are opened out ,.dollpablnbf tothe cabinet andaleo a side door hinged tek door and adapted tobe opened outwardly,- andV an'outer pedestal adjacent the hinged edges-'of said doors' upon Whicha person from within the'cabinet inaypass and be supported when the `said lbach doorA is opened inwardly, said pedestal and the per# son thereon'being' between the said back and side'doors whensaid doors are opened outalsohaving aV dark 1in` ing and front curtains.

4, A cabinet ofthe characterV described l0 edges` adjacent to' the back corners ofthe Vcabinet andvgadapted to` be turned'inwardly into the cabinet and alsooutwardly'there. l from, two side doors hinged -at their `rear i edges adjacent to the hinged edges of-said back doors -and adapted tovbe opened outwardly, and outer pedestals atsaid bach` corners upon which persons vfrom within `the cabinet may passgand be supported whenth'e gre opened 1nv\ "ard1y,saidl sfthereon being be d vwhen said pedestals an' tweensuid ba doors are ope also having a'd a receptacle in i 5; A cabinet' of th backdoors, two hin front diexible cn'gtai receptacle, the 4front sr ings therein and flaps 6. A cabinet of thV lined with black and i back doors, ,two hinged d front exible' curtainsV and receptacle, the front side curtains having openings th therefor'.

and," l

fettina; of the attac-ihaving two .bach-doors hined'at their; caterer V e side doorsfwheesaidf l 7.A A eabinetlof Athe character described I havingr hingedhaek und side doors, front curtains, and an exterior elevated support .for u persen, said support being between adjacent doors when such doeis 'are' in open position and to be concealed thereby.

8.- A nabnet; nfthe haraeter descrifieih doors, front. Curtains. and a covered i'ecep- Y taele within ifs flooring, said receptacle heing back from the front of Lne e.lhii1ei,`.'ind' lighting means adapted tn direct its rays only inni the lower extreme l'i'nni inn-lion (if the cabinet, and to ther'rony ni said receptacle.

10. A cabinet nl" the character described having a dark lining. a hinged ha -l deer. a "ide door hinged adjacent to the hinged l,edge nl said bank door, and an exterior-.supn poltnpon which an attendant may be mncealed by said doors when said doers are opened outn-'ardly toward eneh other.

Signed al. New Yrnk cify, in the cnnnly 0f New York and State 0i NewV York (hiss 29th day of July, A. l). 1918.

H() WAR I) TI-I URSTUN.

' tnesses:

An'riiUn Mmmm; Cir/is. C. GILL. 

